Begum Rokeya’s works, thoughts surprised me, says Prof Yunus

Recalling the contribution of Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, commonly known as Begum Rokeya, to social reform, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said her works and thoughts surprised him. He made the remarks while distributing Begum Rokeya Padak-2024 to the recipients at a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here today.

Speaking on the occasion, he lauded the courage of Begum Rokeya as she was grown up in very hard time while girls did not get enough scopes to continue their study. Amid the hard time, Rokeya emerged as a courageous girl and lady, the chief adviser said, adding that her imaginary power makes him surprised too.

Prof Yunus said everyone has the imaginary power but all are not able to apply it like Begum Rokeya, a prominent Bengali feminist thinker, writer, educator and political activist. Noting that reality is impossible without dream, he proposed introduction of ‘Sultanar Swopna (dream) Award’. A total of four women were awarded with the ‘Begum Rokeya Padak-2024’ for their outstanding contributions to society, women's education and women's empowerment.

Dr Parvin Hasan, Vice Chancellor of Central Women's University, Shirin Parvin Haque, founder of women's rights organisation Nari Paksha, labour and women's rights activist Taslima Akhtar Lima and Bangladesh's first female international chess master Rani Hamid were conferred with the award this year. Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid, Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Mamtaz Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.